Novel light



Dec., 1966 P. H. GIBSON, .JR gm NOVEL LIGHT Filed June 26, 1964 f f f 1 ENTOR. f5 y IIN V United States Patent O 3,289,342 NVEL LIGHT Preston H. Gibson, Jr., 946 Uakland Drive, SW., Atlanta, Ga. Filed .lune 26, 1964, Ser. No. 378,391 2 Claims. (Cl. t0-152.2)

This invention relates generally to illuminated pictures. More specifically it relates to an electrical circuit for producing an illuminated picture.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated picture having self-contained means whereby certain portions of the picture will produce a glowing eifect which may be seen by an observer of the picture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated picture wherein a glowing effect of certain portions thereof will produce a realism to the particular scene of the picture. Such glowing effect would be particularly desirable in night scenes wherein twinkling start would add to the realism. It would also be particularly adaptable to pictures of snow scapes, wherein moonbeams may be made to glow from the surface of the snow, also scenes showing houses wherein there are lighted windows, or scenes including iireilies, such as in wood scapes or coastal scenes wherein ilashing lights are used, `such as in lighthouses `or ships at sea.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated picture wherein no electrical switches or plug elements are necessary.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated picture having on its rear an electrical circuit including a dry cell battery supplying power to a plurality of neon bulbs, the glow from which is visible from the front of the picture.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated picture including an electrical circuit on the rear of the picture, the circuit being designed to last for a period of several years without requiring a change of battery.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an illuminated picture *bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and eiiicient in operation and use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevational view of a framed picture incorporating the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a schematic wiring diagram thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral represents an illuminated picture according to the present invention wherein there is a panel 11 which carries a pictorial scene on the front thereof. The panel is provided in the example illustrated in FIGURE 1 with a plurality of star-shaped openings 12 which extend through the panel. These star-shaped openings on the picture side of the panel in the particular example represent sta-rs in the sky. On the rear 13 of the panel, a neon bulb 14 is located, the neon bulbs being in alignment with the openings whereby light rays from the neon bulb will pass directly forwardly through the panel open- ACC ings so that the rays lmay be readily visible to an observer of the scene. A pair of electric wires 15 and 16 are connected electrically to opposite terminals of the neon bulbs. The wires` extend from the neon bulbs to a power source which comprises in the present example a -volt dry cell battery 17, also located upon the rear side of the panel. The wires 16 from each neon bulb are connected to a comemon wire 18 which is connected to one end of the dry cell battery. The wires 1S are connected to a -lead 19 which extends between a resistor Ztl and a condenser 21, the opposite end of the condenser is connected by means of a lead wire 22 to the wire 16. The opposite end of the resistor 21 is connected by means of a lead wire 23 yto a common wire 24 which is connected to the opposite end of the dry cell battery 17. The panel may be set within a decorative frame 25 of rectangular or other coniiguration. In the example illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawing, a point 1 rnfd. condenser is used in the circuit extending to each of the star neon bulbs, and a 1.() or 3.8 meg, resistor is also used. The dry cell battery may be 90-volt if so desired.

In operative use, the wires are connected to the power source battery, and no switches or plugs are incorporated in the circuit. Thus, the circuit is in continuous operation and in View of the small amount of power used to light the neon bulbs, the electrical energy within the battery will last a relatively long time, even for several years.

On the front side of the panel, there may be a scene of a Seascape, landscape or other scene wherein small glowing portions will add to the realism of the picture. In the case of a night scene, stars will appear to twinkle; in a scene showing houses, window lights may be made to glow and the like.

It is to be noted that the circuit to the various stars, Shown in FIGURE 1, is in parallel, whereby the illuminated effect will continue to operate even if one of the neon bulbs burns out.

It is to further noted that this circuit can be used in toys for blinking light, in novelties, in advertising displays and also in certain sporting goods. In the use of the circuit in toys or small objects, two iS-volt. dry cell batteries may be used instead of the 90-volt dry cell battery shown in the drawing. In relatively larger pictures, additional batteries may be usedy t-o supply a greater number of neon b-ulbs.

Thus, there has been shown a novel light which will produce realism in pictures.

While various chan-ges may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an illuminated picture, the combination of a panel, one side of said panel having a pictorial scene, the opposite side of said panel carrying an electrical circuit, said panel having a plurality of openings therein, a plurality of neon bulbs, one of said neon bulbs being in alignment, and extending through, each of said openings, whereby the electrical circuit will produ-ce a glowing effect on certain parts of said -one side of said panel, said electrical circuit comprising a battery, common wires attached to each end of said battery, one of said common Wires, being connected to a plurality of wires each of which extend and is electrically connected to one of said neon bulbs, and the other of said common Wires from said battery is connected to one end of a resistor, the opposite end of said resistor being connected to one end of said neon Ibulbs and to one end of a condenser, the opposite end of said -condenser being connected to the rst said Wires connected to the iirst said common Wires.

2. In an illuminated picture, the combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said condenser is a .l mfd. condenser and said resistor is a 1.0 or 3.8 meg. resistor Whereby a relatively small amount of current is consumed over a long period of time to produce said glowing eect.

"K References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 2/ 1948 France.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

W. I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN ILLUMINATED PICTURE, THE COMBINATION OF A PANEL, ONE SIDE OF SAID PANEL HAVING A PICTORIAL SCENE, THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID PANEL CARRYING AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, SAID PANEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS THEREIN, A PLURALITY OF NEON BULBS, ONE OF SAID NEON BULBS BEING IN ALIGNMENT, AND EXTENDING THROUGH, EACH OF SAID OPENINGS, WHEREBY THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL PRODUCE A GLOWING EFFECT ON CERTAIN PARTS OF SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID PANEL, SAID ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT COMPRISING A BATTERY, COMMON WIRES ATTACHED TO EACH END OF SAID BATTERY, ONE OF SAID COMMON WIRES, BEING CONNECTED TO PLURALITY OF WIRES EACH 